Microbiologist

Pentagon Force Protection AgencyPentagon, Arlington, Virginiausajobspublished 10/05/2026

This position is located in the Technical Integration and Defense Division (TIDD). The employee serves as a Microbiologist and Laboratory Director responsible for performing scientific and professional work in the field of microbiology. As the Laboratory Director, the employee is responsible for overseeing a technical staff of approximately forty (40) contractors and is a recognized technical authority and expert resource.

Major duties

Incumbent typical work assignments may include the following: Serves as the Contract Officers Representative for the Laboratory Analysis Contract and other supporting contracts. Responsibilities include operation of 24/7-365 bio-safety level (BSL) 3 laboratory, laboratory accreditation and compliance with appropriate safety requirements, including local, state, federal, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Environmental Protection Administration, Health and Human Services, National Institutes for Health (NIH), Center for Disease Control (CDC), and bio-security regulations. Secures essential information through site visits, workshops, conferences, committees, and scientific and regulatory literature review, and discusses with scientists, engineers, and technical program managers, industrial hygienists, occupational health, emergency managers, and regulatory specialists in DoW, other federal agencies, and private, industrial, and foreign institutions.

Qualifications

In order to qualify for this position, you must meet the requirements described below. Basic Requirements Degree: microbiology; or biology, chemistry, or basic medical science that included at least 20 semester hours in microbiology and other subjects related to the study of microorganisms, and 20 semester hours in the physical and mathematical sciences combining course work in organic chemistry or biochemistry, physics, and college algebra, or their equivalent. OR Combination of education and experience: courses equivalent to a major in microbiology, biology, chemistry, or basic medical science that included courses as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. You may qualify at the GS-14 level, if you fulfill the following qualification requirement: One year of specialized experience in the same or similar work equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-13) requiring application of the knowledge, skills, and abilities of the position being filled. Applicants for this position must clearly demonstrate in their resume that they possess specialized experience in 1) developing and executing specified experiments in microbiology for defense or environmental programs; 2) developing policies and procedures for laboratory quality assurance systems to be used in microbiology laboratories; 3) providing guidance in microbiology, molecular biology, laboratory analysis methods and procedures to prevent and mitigate problems in sampling; 4) analyzing samples using knowledge of health effects of CBRN agents and current detection and identification technology. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. All qualifications and education requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement and clearly documented in your resume. Your resume may not exceed two (2) pages. For qualifications determinations, it is recommended that applicants include their months and hours worked per week for each employment listed on their resume. If a determination is not able to be made about the duration of your creditable experience for qualification requirements, you will be removed from consideration. Read more about what should I include in my federal resume at https://help.usajobs.gov/faq/application/documents/resume/what-to-include ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE MEMBERS: Federal agencies treat active duty service member as veterans, disabled veterans, and preference eligible, when they submit, as part of their application package, a "certification" of active service in lieu of a DD-214, indicating the service member is otherwise eligible and will be discharged or released within 120 days from the date of submission.. A "certification" letter should be on letterhead of the appropriate military branch of the service and contain (1) the military service dates including the expected discharge or release date; and (2) the character of service. This "certification" must include your rank, dates of active duty service, type of discharge and character of service (i.e. honorable), and date any terminal leave will begin. It must be signed by, or by direction of, the adjutant, personnel officer, or commander of your unit or higher headquarters. Active duty members that fail to provide a valid "certification" of service with their initial application will be found "not eligible". Members may be appointed before the effective date of their military retirement/separation if they are on terminal leave. Current or Former Political Appointees: Agencies must seek prior approval from OPM before they can appoint a current or recent political appointee to a competitive or non-political excepted service position at any level. If you are currently or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-career SES employee in the executive branch, you MUST disclose that to the Human Resources Office. Time-in-grade requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement and clearly documented in your resume.

Education

ARE YOU QUALIFYING BASED ON EDUCATION or A COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE? You must provide sufficient documentation of your education in your resume. You MUST provide a copy of official or unofficial transcripts or degrees in your application package. It may also be acceptable to document your applicable course listing in your resume (course number, credits earned, etc.). Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website: http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html. All education claimed by applicants will be verified by the appointing agency. If selected, an official/sealed transcript will be required prior to appointment. PASS/FAIL COURSES: If more than 10 percent of your undergraduate course work (credit hours) were taken on a pass/fail basis, your claim of superior academic achievement must be based upon class standing or membership in an honor society. GRADUATE EDUCATION: One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study. FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html